Right and left opening refrigerator door



y l.. ALTMANN RIGHT AND LEFT OPENING REFRIGERATOR DooR Filed sept. 15, 1955 May 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MMS am d n n/m7 lll 6 36 al I8 x. T Ma@ E wie. vgnm Erm .W M/WLH/g 224 4m ewmawzz. 9 l

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IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent RIGHT AND LEFT OPglNG REFRIGERATOR D R Y Leon Altmann, New York, N .Y. Application September 13, 1955, Serial No. 534,028 4 Claims. (Cl. 16-147) This invention relates to a door construction for refrigerators and the like, and a principal object of the` invention is to provide a refrigerator with a door which the fabricated body of the door which locks the hinges forming the pivots for the door opening and closing,y

which means includes opposing levers pivoted within the door and coupled to the operating mechanism for the selective use of the hinges, and so arranged that when any set of hinge members of one side o-f the door is operated the other set will be locked against operation, byA

the end engagement of one lever with the other lever.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of a door for a refrigerator and the like, having a pair of movable hinge members on the left side of the door, a pair of movable hinge members on the right side of the door, a sliding vertical rod for operating the left hinges, a sliding vertical rod for operating the right hinges, a handle located near the side edge of the right of the door for operating the right vertical sliding bar, a handle located near the left side edge of the door for operating the left vertical sliding bar, and spring pins for automatically locking the raised vertical bar on each side of the door, to prevent accidental release thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a refrigerator door with a vertical sliding bar on the left Side of the door, a vertical sliding bar on the right side of the door, upper and lower hinge members on each bar which project outwardly of the door, a spring for forcing each bar and its hinge members downwardly, a lever enclosed by the frame of the door which has pivotal engagement with the left vertical sliding bar, a companion lever which has pivotal engagement with the right vertical sliding bar, arms on the inner confronting ends of the levers which have sliding engagement with each other, so that when one sliding bar is raised the other sliding bar will be locked downwardly, a handle located near the left vertical side edge of the door for operating the left sliding bar, a handle located near the right vertical Side of the door 4for operating the right sliding bar, and

automatic means for locking the bar of the open side of' the door against accidental displacement while the door is opened.

A With the above and other objects in view the invention comprises certain new and useful constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, shown in the accompanying drawings, and described in the following specifi cation thereof, and in which:

2,885,723 Patented May l2, 1959 Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the door shown in closed position on a refrigerator cabinet or box.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the door opened on the right side of the refrigerator cabinet or box.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the door, showing the right movable hinge members raised and the left movable hinge members locked downwardly.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing the left movable hinge members of the door in raised position and the right movable hinge members locked in lower position.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the door,

vshowing the mounting of the handle on one side of the door and the manner it operates the vertical sliding bar of the same side of the door, shown partly broken away.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, takenl through one of the hinges.

Fig. 8 is a detail edge view of one of the vertical sliding bars.

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical sectional view, showing the automatic means for locking the vertical sliding bar of -the open side of the door when the door is in open posi- Fig. ll is an edge view of the levers engaged with each other, looking from the top thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illus-l trate the practical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates a commercial type of refrigerator cabinet or box, having vertical side walls 11 and 12 and a bottom wall 13, and a top wall 14.

On the left vertical side of the cabinet, attached to the side wall 11 a lower hinge member 15 is secured to the refrigerator permanently, and near the upper end of the refrigerator an upper hinge member 16 is fixed on the Side wall 11, in vertical alignment with the lower hinge member 15. On the right side wall 12 a lower hinge member 17 is fixed and in the same horizontal plane as the hinge member 15 of the left side of therefrigerator, and near the upper end of this right side wall 12 another hinge member 18 is xed, in the same horizontal plane as the upper left hinge member 16 of the A left bar 21 is arranged to slide vertically against the left side of the door, and is provided with a longitudinal slot 21a near its upper end, through which a fastener or pin 22 extends to engage the door, and hold the bar 21 for limited sliding movement on the door. The bar 21 is further provided with a longitudinal slot 2lb near its lower end, through which the fastener or pin 22a extends to engage the door, to permit limited sliding movement of the bar, and to hold the bar in proper working relation rto the door. v

The lower end of the bar 21 is provided with a lateral ange 21e, through which a vertical rod 23 extends, this rod being secured at 24 to the bottom wall 19a. The rod 23 is provided on its upper end with a head 23a, which is engaged by the coil spring 25 disposed around this rod, and which engages rthe lateral flange 21e of the vertical sliding bar 21 to force this bar downwardly.

Another bar 26 is arranged to slide vertically on the right side of the door, and for this purpose is formed with a longitudinal slot 26a near its upper end and another longitudinal slot 26b near its lower end. A fastener 27 extends through the upper slot 26a and is engaged with the door, and a fastener 27a extends through the lower slot 2Gb to hold'thebar26 for'liniited'sliding-nrovement on the door.

A bar 28, having ,a head onits upper end, projects through the terminal vilange`26ii of the lower 'endofthe bar 26, and a coil spring'ZScis mounted kon'the bar 'or rod 28 and exerts pressure against'the'flateral stop flange 28d. The rod or bar '28 is secured at29 ltothe bottom wall 19a of the door.

On theileft side `ofthe door, alever '29 having a longitudinal slot 29a Vin its outer end,'is pivotally secured to the bar 21 by means `of the fastener 31, which extends through the slot 29a, andis pivotally'secured to the door bythe fastener 32. This lever has an inner arm 30 vdisposed in diagonalrelationto the outer Varm thereof, `and is lprovided with a terminal shoe or strike Ahead 34 on its inner end. A second and 'companion lever 3'5 is pivotally secured "to the sliding 'vertical bar '26 by means of the 'fastener 36, 'which extends through the longitudinal slot 35a of said lever to Yengage vsaid vertical Abar 26. This second lever has an inner arm 37, disposed in diagonal relation to the 'outer `lever 0arm, which is pivoted vvby ythe fastener 40 to the door.

Theright lever "35 is provided with a striking head 37a on the inner end -of 'the arm l37, which is designed "to abut against the striking head 34 of the lever arm 30. When the vertical sliding bar 26 is in a raised position, the outer ylever arm 3S will Vbe `raised and this will mean that the inner lever 'arm v3;7 is lowered, so that it abuts against the end of the striking head 34 of 'the lever arm 30. 'When :the verticalsliding bar 21 is raised, the outer lever arm 29 will also be raised, thereby lowering the inner lever arm 3l) and this will Acause the striking head 34 thereof to abut against the striking head 37a ofthe inner lever arm 37, and lthis will lock the sliding bar 26 against vertical movement. When the bar 21 vis locked in its lower position, the door will swing onthe left hinge members which are coupled to leach other, and when the bar 26 is locked in its lower position, the door will swing on its right hinge members.

The -movable hinge member 15a is provided with a p'intle pin which is received by the female lhinge member 1'5, fixed to the refrigerator lbox; the movable hinge vmember 16a is secured in place by an arm 16b on the upper end of the bar 21, and is provided with a pintle 16d, which is received vby the hinge member 16, xed to 'the refrigerator box. The movable hinge member 17a is provided with a pintle 17d, which is -received lby the fixed hinge member 17 of the refrigerator. The movable hinge member 18 is provided with a pintle 18d, which is received by the hinge member 18 fixed to the refrigerator. A shield e may be provided on the movable hinge member 15a to conceal the joint between the lmating hinge members 15a and 15', a shield 16e may be provided on the hinge member 16a for the same purpose; a shield 17e` may be provided on the hinge member 17a and a shield 18e may be provided on =the hinge member 18a for the same general purpose, of masking the gap lbetween the mating hinge members.

`The vertical sliding bar 21 is manually raised by means of a handle 42, which has a handhold 42b projecting above the pivot connection of the handle 42' with the door. This handle is provided with an inner hook arm 42a, which is designed to engage the small flange 41 -iixed to the sliding `bar 21. A spring 43 exerts a downward pull on the hook arm 42a, and thereby holds the handhold 42b contiguous to the front face of the door. By pulling on the handhold 42b, Ithe hook arm 42a will be raised, thereby raising the sliding bar. The sliding bar 26 is operated in the same way by the handle 44.

v Each of the sliding bars 21 Aand 26 is provided with a group of three spring pins 48, 49 and 50 on each sliding bar. 'These pins are spaced longitudinally from each other. Each spring pin includes a housing 51, which is secured to its bar, and a plunger pin 52, which slides in the housing yand is acted on by the Icoil spring 53. vThe head ofthe pin is formed to engage in an opening52d in the inner door plate 20a, said opening being aligned with the opening 52e in the 'bar 21. When the door is opened all of the pins of the vertical sliding bar on the open side of the door will be interlocked with the door part or plate 26a. When the door is closed the spring pressed pins will be displaced from locked engagement with the door, by the action of the `tapered pins r54, fixed to the refrigerator and it will then be possible to operate the vertical With the door in an open position the movement of the spring pressed Apins'through the sliding bar on the open side'of the door, .and 'into the receiving holes of the door `plate 20a, will automatically lock this sliding bar against movement.

This safety feature is designed to prevent children from releasing the vertical sliding bar on the open side of the door when the door is in open position. Should one of the spring pins 'be Vpressed and thereby "displaced :by a child, the other'two spring pins would hold'the vertical bar '-21 or -26la`tc'hed against accidental dropping, `when it is in araisedposition.

4`I am aware Vthat doors have been kconstructed before whichopened on therig'ht or left sides, Ibut the public has not been Asatisfied with the constructions 'offered it. In some Yof :the devices which have .gone "into Ageneral use on a limited scale aesinglehandle is provided'on the door, which is located midway of the verticalsides o'f-the door, with theresult that greatereffort is required to open a door because of the central position of the handle. My invention permits of the'location'oi the handle atthe extreme sidevedge Vportion of the door, so that maximum leverage is obtained, and a child may open 'the door without unusual effort. The opening action or effort for leach side of the door -is equal to that of the other side, which provides a'balanced construction of high consumer acceptance value.

I My invention provides `for means for locking the unused sliding-vertical bar against operation, by the action of the yactive lever'on the inactive lever, and at the same time locks the handle which is operatively connected with the inactive sliding bar, and also provides means for locking :the raised sliding bar in a raised position so that the door can besafely closed, and this locking means as well as theinternal lever locking means involves an automaticV action, which does not depend on manual selection.

Various changes and adjustments may be carried out in the development and utilization of the invention, within the scope of the invention asdened by the claims.

Having described my invention I claim as patentable:

l. A refrigerator having a box-like body provided vwithside, top and bottom walls and a back wall, the side walls being disposedvertically, the left side wall beingprovided with vertically aligned hinge members projecting outwardly vthereof and .spaced apart from each other, the right vertical side wall being provided with vertically aligned hinge -members projecting outwardly thereof and spaced apart from each other, a door constructed to close the opening ofthe refrigerator and provided with vertical walls spaced apart from each other to provide `a clearance between the walls, va vertical bar mounted to slide inrsaid clearance adjacent to `the `left side of the door, a vertical bar mounted to slide in ,said clearance adjacent to the right side of ,the door, the left vertical sliding bar'havin'g vertically aligned hinge members projecting outwardly thereof to have .hinge engagement with the hinge members of the left side wall of the refrigerator, the right vertical sliding bar having hinge members projecting outwardly thereof to have hinge engagement with the hinge members of the right side wall of the refrigerator, each of said sliding vertical bars having a lateral bearing, a vhan'vlle pivoted to the door near 'the extreme left vertical edge thereof andprovidedwith a part which projects inwardly and engages the bearing of the left 'vertical sliding bar,

a 'handle Apivoted to lthe door near the-extreme right ver-` tical edge thereof and having a vpart which projects inwardly to engage the bearing on the right vertical sliding bar, a lever pivoted between its ends to the door and having an outer arm having sliding connection with the left vertical sliding bar, a lever pivoted to the door and having an outer arm having sliding connection with the right vertical sliding bar, each lever having an inner arm which projects upwardly and each inner arm having a terminal striker thereon, the levers being normally disengaged from each other when the door is fully closed, the door being openable by operating either handle, and the levers and vertical sliding bars being so arranged that when one lever and its vertical sliding bar is actuated the other lever and its sliding bar Will be locked against operation by the movement of the striker of the inner lever arm of the actuated lever against the striker of the other inner lever arm whereby movement thereof is obstructed.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1, each vertical side wall of the refrigerator having a plurality of pins dis posed in a vertical plane and spaced apart from each other, the door having openings on each vertical side thereof to receive said pins when the door is fully closed, each vertical sliding bar having a plurality of spring pressed pins alignable with the pin receiving openings, the spring pins of each vertical sliding bar being adapted to enter the door openings on the same side of the door when the vertical bar is in a raised position and to support the vertical sliding bar which has been raised in an elevated position when the door is open, the pins of the refrigerator being adapted to displace the holding spring pins of the raised vertical bar when the door is closed.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1 including means for holding each vertical sliding bar in a raised position when the door is open and means carried by the refrigerator for displacing said holding means to release the raised sliding bar when the door is closed against the refrigerator.

4. The combination with a body forming a compartment and having opposing side walls disposed vertically, a pair of hinge members fixed to one side wall and disposed in vertical alignment with each other, a pair of hinge members fixed to the other side wall and disposed in vertical alignment with each other, a door constructed to close the opening between said side walls, a vertical bar mounted to slide on one side edge portion of the door and provided with hinge members disposed in vertical alignment with each other and adapted to have simultaneous hinge coupling action with the hinge members irst-named herein, a second vertical bar mounted to slide on the opposite side edge portion of the door and provided with hinge members disposed in vertical alignment with each other and adapted to have hinge coupling engagement with the second-named hinge members, a lever pivoted to the door and having pivotal connection with the firstnamed vertical sliding bar, a lever pivoted to the door and having pivotal connection with the second-named vertical sliding bar, a handle pivoted to the door near one vertical side thereof and having operating connection with the first-named vertical sliding bar, a second handle pivoted to the other vertical side of the door and having operating connections with the second-named Vertical sliding bar, means carried by the door arranged to hold the first-named vertical sliding bar in a raised position when the door is opened from the adjacent side, means carried by the door arranged to hold the second-named vertical sliding bar in a raised position when the door is opened from the adjacent side, means carried by one side wall located in the path of the first-named means for displacing said means from bar holding position engageable with said means when the door is fully closed, and means carried by the other side wall located in the path of said second-named door carried means for displacing said second-named means from bar holding position engageable with said door carried means when the door is fully closed, all of said means being organized to cause the door to automatically lock when it is fully closed, the levers being arranged so that when one lever is actuated by the lifting of its connected vertical bar said lever will intercept the other lever and prevent operation thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 577,657 Herrman Feb. 23, 1897 707,910 Fischer Aug. 26, 1902 1,674,760 Carroll June 26, 1928 2,195,679 Rapp Apr. 2, 1940 2,660,752 Carcereny Dec. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 825,047 France Feb. 22, 1938 

